Ireland Women have pulled off a remarkable 6-wicket victory over the highly-favoured West Indies – the win is the first-ever T20 World Cup success.
Orla Prendergast starred with the bat, scoring 63 (44 balls) and took 1-29 with the ball, but the win was, in reality, a true team effort.
Batting first, the Caribbean side faltered early losing Qiana Joseph for 8 in the first over after a top-edged sweep shot fell into the hands of Leah Paul at short fine leg.
That was the first of Aimee Maguire’s two wickets (2-22) – the second victim was potentially game-changing.
Having made their way reasonably comfortably to 50-2 after 8 overs, the first ball of the 9th ball – bowled by Cara Murray (2-13) saw the powerhouse opener Hayley Matthews clip the ball to Rebecca Stokell at square leg.
However, with Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin at the crease, there was no West Indian panic…until Aimee Maguire bowled her last over and induced a false lofted on-drive from Taylor that was claimed by Prendergast at long on.
That was the moment Ireland’s players and fans began to believe they could restrict the West Indies to a gettable target.
Tight death overs bowling saw West Indies finish on 128-7 from 20 overs.
Despite losing skipper Gaby Lewis (9) in the powerplay, Prendergast looked in sublime touch as she registered her 14th T20I half-century.
Several more wickets fell, but the Irish batting was assured and calm, knocking the ball for ones and twos between the odd boundary to keep the required run rate in check.
Then, on the first ball of the 19th over, Stokell blasted the ball over mid on to the boundary and celebrations from the Irish dugout burst into life.
Ireland had largely dominated the match from first to last, and their very first win at a T20 World Cup was finally ticked off.
